steves



S. G. STEVES.

Car Truck.

' Patented Apr. 30. 1867.

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. IMPROVED GAB-TRUCK.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, S. SrEVEs, of Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Railroad Oar-Trucks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and complete. description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a top view of the truck.

Figure 2, a side View of the same Figure 3, an end view.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the views presented.

A, figs. 1 and 2, is the truck-frame; B, the axles; C, the journal-boxes; I), the wheels; and E, fig. 2, the cross-timbers, upon which the body of the truck is supported; F are the car springs, and G the bolster; all of which are or may be constructed in the ordinary manner. It will be seen, on examination of the drawing, that the frame is not placed above the axles, but is suspended from the same by a trestle-framework, of which H is the chord, and the sides A of the truck-frame the string pieces, and which are locked to each other by the bolts I, and braced and counter-braced by the braces J J and tension-rods K. It is also supported laterally by the ties K and tension-rods L, fig. 3. By this arrangement or position of the car-frame it will be evident that should the axle break the frame cannot get down upon the road, but the disabled axle willbe supported by the frame and checks L, to which checks they are secured by the stay-bands M. More especially would this be the case should the axle break at the middle, and which is usually-the place of fracture. Should the breaking of the axle occur near the wheel, one wheel only could be displaced, while the other would be held securely by the cheeks and stay-bands, while the displaced wheel would be prevented from falling upon the rails by the cheeks of the frame, between which it would be carried along without danger to the train. By thus suspending the frame below the axles, .it is in consequence brought nearer to the rails; hence, should there Many breaking down of the running-gear the cars could not turn over, as the frame would come to the ground at too slight an angle to cause them to fall over, but would slide along upon the rails until the train could be stopped. In thus placing the frame below the axles, the brakes are arranged above the frame, as shown in fig. 3, a section of the axle being shown as broken away in order that it may be seen. I V

The construction and operation of this brake are analogous to those in ordinary use, and of which N, fig. 3,

is the adjustable bar, to the ends of which are fixed the rubbers O, fig. 2. P, figs. 1 and 3, are the levers, by which the'rubbers are operated by the chain and platform-wheel, all of which is arranged above the frame; hence, should there be any breaking away of any part of the apparatus, it could not get down uponthe road or under the wheels, but it would be caught and supported by the frame, and thus be carried along without danger to the train, which would not be the case should it fall upon the road and rails, which it would do if placed below the frame, and which is done in the ordinary truck. By thus placing the truck-frame below the axles, much larger wheels can be used than if placed above in the ordinary way; hence, by increasing the diameter of the wheels, is gained an increase of speed and a reduction in the friction of the axles, as the revolutions made by a large wheel are less in traversing a giving space than wheels of a smaller diameter. It is also,attended by a less amount of friction and wearing of the rails.

What I claim as my improvement, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

The car-truck frame A, in combination with the braces J J, chord H, and tension-rod K, and so constructed that the sides of said truck form a truss by which it is suspended below the axles in the manner and for the purposes substantially set forth.

S. G. STEVES.

Witnesses:

W. H. Bunnrncn, J. H. Bunnrncn. 

